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1.) A small automatic electric pump selected for its ability to pump down to a shallow residue. I think of this as the 'slurper' pump. This type turns on with a low float, and then keeps going until it determines that it's pumping air. I even went with a smaller diameter hose to reduce drain back volume. Original advertised capacity was around 500 gph. If it can pump a 100 gph, that's plenty. I shoved it as far fwd as it would fit under the companionway ladder.

2.) A large electric pump and separate float switch selected for its ability to move a lot of water. I refer to this as a damage control pump. I think it's rated around 3,700 gph with 1-1/2" smooth bore hose. The pump and switch are installed a few inches above the level of the 'slurper' pump, under the galley area just to port of swing keel cable. I've yet to have enough water in the bilge to activate the damage control pump, even flushing the cabin with a garden hose. I imagine it looking like a fire hydrant or jet drive.

3.) I rebuilt or replaced the original manual bilge pump, including new hoses and a strum box pickup under the cabin sole near the stbd swing keel pivot.

Each pump discharges through a separate thru-hull high in the transom well above the heeled waterline.

Each electric pump is connected to a separate ON/OFF/AUTO switch with green indicator lights for enabled and red for running. (An audible alarm on the big pump, loud enough to wake the dead but with a mute switch, seems like a good idea, but I haven't gotten around to adding it.) Each has its own circuit breaker wired directly to a separate group 27 flooded cell house battery (bypassing the OFF/1/BOTH/2 switch and main 12V circuit breaker.) Each house battery is connected to a separate solar panel. (Group 24 cranking battery is charged directly from engine alternator.) All 3 batteries are also connected to a 3-bank shore power charger, and can be paralleled with ON/OFF/AUTO battery combiner relays (50A continuous, 150A cranking surge, as I recall).

I'm not saying this is the dewatering system every Catalina 25 needs, just throwing it out as food for thought.

-- Leon Sisson {a.k.a. Mr. Overkill}

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Originally posted by Kim Luckner

Check out the diagrams in the Manuals & Brochures link on the left.

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/manbro/pictures/4-2-3.gif

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/manbro/pictures/4-2-5.gif

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Originally posted by Leon Sisson

James,

For bilge pump configuration, I use, and recommend, some variation of the concept suggested in "This Old Boat" by Don Casey.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0071477942

Here's a copy & paste from an earlier post on the subject.

http://catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=30511

quote:

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1.) A small automatic electric pump selected for its ability to pump down to a shallow residue. I think of this as the 'slurper' pump. This type turns on with a low float, and then keeps going until it determines that it's pumping air. I even went with a smaller diameter hose to reduce drain back volume. Original advertised capacity was around 500 gph. If it can pump a 100 gph, that's plenty. I shoved it as far fwd as it would fit under the companionway ladder.

2.) A large electric pump and separate float switch selected for its ability to move a lot of water. I refer to this as a damage control pump. I think it's rated around 3,700 gph with 1-1/2" smooth bore hose. The pump and switch are installed a few inches above the level of the 'slurper' pump, under the galley area just to port of swing keel cable. I've yet to have enough water in the bilge to activate the damage control pump, even flushing the cabin with a garden hose. I imagine it looking like a fire hydrant or jet drive.

3.) I rebuilt or replaced the original manual bilge pump, including new hoses and a strum box pickup under the cabin sole near the stbd swing keel pivot.

Each pump discharges through a separate thru-hull high in the transom well above the heeled waterline.

Each electric pump is connected to a separate ON/OFF/AUTO switch with green indicator lights for enabled and red for running. (An audible alarm on the big pump, loud enough to wake the dead but with a mute switch, seems like a good idea, but I haven't gotten around to adding it.) Each has its own circuit breaker wired directly to a separate group 27 flooded cell house battery (bypassing the OFF/1/BOTH/2 switch and main 12V circuit breaker.) Each house battery is connected to a separate solar panel. (Group 24 cranking battery is charged directly from engine alternator.) All 3 batteries are also connected to a 3-bank shore power charger, and can be paralleled with ON/OFF/AUTO battery combiner relays (50A continuous, 150A cranking surge, as I recall).

I'm not saying this is the dewatering system every Catalina 25 needs, just throwing it out as food for thought.

-- Leon Sisson {a.k.a. Mr. Overkill}

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P.S.
I realize most Catalina 25 owners, including me, have never had an automatic bilge pump turn on from incoming water. Some might consider that proof automatic bilge pumps are a waste of money.

Similarly, most people have never emptied a fire extinguisher at a blazing vehicle, been hit in the face by an air bag, hung up side down from a seat belt, ground a flat spot on a motorcycle helmet, or had a leather jacket cut off in an emergency room, etc. Never the less, I would like to think most of us would agree those are all worthwhile safety equipment.

According to BOAT/US, sinking, most often due to failure of plumbing below the waterline, is the #5 cause of boat owners insurance claims.

[http://www.boatus.com/magazine/2018/august/top-10-marine-insurance-claims.asp]

They used a photo of a sailboat similar to a Catalina 25 to illustrate that point...

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